PM offers more land to Japanese businesses to set up industries

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said Bangladesh will allocate more space to Japan for setting up industries if they want, reports UNB.
She said this when a Japanese parliamentary delegation told her that many Japanese companies are interested to invest in Bangladesh.
"Bangladesh has given space to Japan in the EPZ, and we can give more (space) if Japan wants to set up industries," Hasina said.
The five-member delegation, led by Nakanishi Yusuke, director of the committee on general affairs, House of Councillors, called on the Prime Minister at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.
The Japanese delegation said that the existing development partnership between Japan and Bangladesh has to be carried forward and strengthened further.
They said that Japan has been working on different mega projects in Bangladesh, including the metro rail. "Japan is contributing to infrastructure development, especially mega projects of Bangladesh."
Lauding the commencement of direct flight between Dhaka and Narita, they said it will improve the connectivity.
The Japanese delegation also stressed the need for keeping the Indian Ocean peaceful for trade and business.
They also highly appreciated Bangladesh's success in women empowerment and education.
In reply, the prime minister said that the number of girls in educational institutions is much larger than boys, as the government is providing free education for the girls.
She also sought Japanese assistance in building a sea aquarium in the country.
Earlier, Chairman of Nippon Foundation Yohei Sasakawa paid a courtesy call on the prime minister at Ganobhaban.
During the meeting, Yohei Sasakawa said the Nippon Foundation will provide US$3 million for Rohingya refugees in Bhasanchar.
Regarding Rohingya people, Sheikh Hasina said that they have to go back to their own country, Myanmar.
"Myanmar is our neighbouring country. We are communicating with them, but their citizens (Rohingya) must be taken back to their own country," she added.
Yohei Sasakawa, now 84, who survived along with his mother the Second World War, also highlighted the friendship between Bangladesh and Japan.
He praised Bangladesh's efforts to eliminate leprosy and rehabilitate the people afflicted with leprosy.
The Nippon's Foundation chairman invited the prime minister to join the National Leprosy Conference to be held in Dhaka in October this year.
Prime Minister's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminon were present at the meeting.